Hmm… I swear I don’t have the physical input fader up. Not in the studio today.
Back tomorrow. Resetting the mixer makes sense. I also noticed the full channel count wasn’t laid out in full. The last 16 or so Madi channels. Where my h9000 channels are. Although I’m still getting signal? I wanted to reference those channels specifically to see the routing.
Then noticed them showing up lower in the Madi channel layout 40’s.

I did update my M-32’s but saved there state before the update. Should probably check the Madi routing again.

Any tricks on how to prevent such a sonic sound to hit the system? Never had a hit like that. Speakers seem ok. I had to shut my computer down to stop it. Quitting total mix and connection pane didn’t help the madness. Main out were set super low.

Cracking on tomorrow again.
Cheers
E

Totalmix is not "connected" to Ableton, the output channels of Ableton are the Software Playback channels in Totalmix (the middle row faders).
The input channels in Ableton receiving the audio from the Hardware Input channels from Totalmix (top row faders). these signals are provided to Ableton regardless of any faderposition in Totalmix. Only exception is a Loopback.
Totalmix is a monitoring software and for listening you have to pull up faders.

Hi edenrausch, how are you?

I am getting "confused". The start of the thread sounds like "everything too loud / too high levels" and now everything too silent.

Could you kindly deliver concrete information about the device's and analogue port settings (and maybe FX settings) and what the results / the issues are? I think most important, the settings of the analogue inputs and outputs that were in use in terms of reference levels and digital gain.

When it was before too loud and now too silent, then it sounds to me as if you chose possibly the wrong input sensitivity of your analogue input.

Are you aware of, that you can adjust the sensitivity of an analogue port by reference levels in the analogue domain?
It's in most if not all cases also possible to add digital gain on top in the range of ~12 dB, one would have to see the manual for the range of digital gain.

Digital Audio Transfer works different, you do not have to worry about reference levels.

Just looked up the input/output sensitivity of the M-32 pros. Looks like I have choices.
May have changed with the firmware update. Even tho there was mention that the state wouldn’t be effected. Saved it anyway.

Almost bypass is not true bypass.
Bypass these units one by one to sort out the culprit.
Connect the input cable to the output cable for having a real bypass.

Connected the input to the output.
The signals are a bit more stable.
Increased the digital gain I/O in ableton
10db each. Seems to like it. Still after running through my gear the results are weak at best.

The Warm Bud comp. Can handle +29dbu
The Speck EQ’s can handle +28dbu in and out.

Should I have my input sensitivity on both m-32 ad/da set to +24 then? They are now at +19. Changed from (default +13).

Not sure how it relates that much to ableton digital gain. Rather run clean signals, just keep it at 0db.

Today I sat back and really focused on hearing for any processed sound changes. There might have been a sweep of some mids and I did trigger the compressor a bit at 3:1. I know how both of these units sound. Transformers and parametric EQ should be so accurate and noticeable.
Barely audible.

Anyway, lost for sure. I know it worked well before. Great on my master bus or anything you need to cut some frequencies. 

Might ditch this ableton external effects insert and just build return tracks again.

E

What is "they" .. could you kindly be  more specific whether you talk about input or output channels..
The way you describe it makes it very difficult (for me quite impossible) to follow you,
in terms of what levels (or "problems") seen exactly where in the signal chain.

You should perhaps also make an ASCII drawing about the signal chain and add marker like (1), (2), (3)
so that you can easier reference where you see which levels.

Therefore only this general advice. More is not possible for me....

If the output level of an analog ports becomes too loud, then choose a lower reference level because this correlates with output volume.

If the input level of an analog input is too high because the signal is too hot
a) choose the highest reference level on the analog input, to make the input as insensible as possible to have more headroom for hot signals
*** if the signal is still too hot .. well what could be the reason **** (rhetorical question)
b) reduce the output level of the device which is connected to that input.

Additionally you might check whether your analog hardware (compressor) simply make the ignal too hot by the settings that you choose, well then use lower settings. It can not be the case that a signal is "hot" by "given" and can't be changed.

A good diagram tells more than 1000 words. Awaiting smth like an ASCII drawing, which makes the signal chain easier to understand and follow, example for ASCII drawing here,
https://forum.rme-audio.de/viewtopic.ph … 66#p195766
add markers for inputs and outputs as I told like (1), (2), (3) and document which levels you see on inputs and outputs and which reference level has been selected for the input or output.

Yes… I am going to revert to just having return tracks in ableton. Although my effects units (analogue or digital) setups work just fine with routings exactly the same way (external effects plug-in) as my compressor and stereo EQ.

It might be a issue of controlling the I/O more precisely with dedicated return tracks.

Or set the sensitivity right down and drive up the digital gain. Could prevent this hazordus clipping.

As for routing, all of my setups are written down. Checked and updated as things change. I don’t use a patchbay. Using the extra Madi channels and the H9000 for  flexible gear. Everything else is locked in place.

So… at this point it’s all routed correctly but the balancing act is crap with my compressor and EQ.

Thanks